In film, books, blogs and newspaper articles, transgender Jews have focused mainly on identity and inclusion — or barriers to it.

But at the upcoming Jewish Transgender Gathering in Berkeley, the goal will be to shine a light onto spirituality. Not only will the emphasis of the three-day gathering be on Torah, but “Torah that has never been talked about in this way,” Reconstructionist Rabbi David Bauer pointed out. [Read Full Story]

From a Jewish perspective, it is hard to see why anyone religious can be against same-sex marriage without being accused of acute hypocrisy.

Christians might quote the Bible and the verse in Leviticus 18.22 which declares ‘You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination’ or go a few chapters on where it is not only repeated, but in even stronger terms, and the death penalty is laid down for all practitioners (20.13).

However, despite those who piously cite Scripture, they have no problem ignoring other verses in the same sacred book. For instance, about circumcising their male children, abstaining from pork or prawns, and not wearing garments in which wool & linen is mixed. [Read Full Story]

Members of the Minnesota Rabbinical Association have signed a statement opposing a state ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriages.

The group represents rabbis from 15 congregations in the state from the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements. No Orthodox rabbis signed the statement, which was adopted last month. [Read Full Story]

On Jan. 21, Arthur Blankstein and Kenneth Ure renewed their marriage vows at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue; they were wed in a civil service in Vancouver in 2004. Canada legalized same-sex marriage a year later.

The service was held under a chuppah and conducted by Rabbi Larry Pinsker. [Read Full Story]

Over a dozen members of the Jewish community marched alongside J4ME (the Jewish Community supporting Marriage Equality) in this weekend’s rally, with many others participating in the 5,000-10,000-strong crowd that marched from Hyde Park to the Labor Party Conference in Darling Harbour.

Following months of lobbying, the Labor Party voted at the weekend to support marriage equality. However, to placate the party’s right wing, an amendment was added allowing for a conscience vote which means that any bill is likely to fail before Parliament because of Labor’s slim majority. [Read Full Story]